Two-piece loose flange

ABSTRACT

The inventive loose flange ( 1 ) consists of two half flanges ( 2, 2 ) overlapping each other in two overlap areas. A connector screw hole ( 4, 5 ), traversing both half flanges ( 2, 3 ), is located in one of the two overlap areas. Another connector screw hole ( 6, 7 ) is disposed in each of the two half flanges ( 2, 3 ), said screw hole being set at a 90° angle to the first. The overlap areas of both half flanges ( 2, 3 ) have stepped, interlocking profiles ( 21, 22, 31, 32 ) which serve to absorb shearing force. By using connector screws to connect two loose flanges, for instance, in both half flange ( 2, 3 ) overlap areas, all connector screws, i.e. even those arranged in screw holes ( 6, 7 ) located outside the overlap areas, can be tightened to a substantially greater degree.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a two-piece loose flange as defined inthe preamble of independent patent claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Loose flanges are used, in particular, for the purpose of connectingcomponents, e.g. pipes, which are provided with collars as a support forthe loose flanges. For this purpose, a loose flange which rests on thecollar of a first component and a loose flange which rests on the collarof a second component are screwed to one another by means of connectingscrews, with the result that they compress the collars located betweenthem, and thus the components. Arranged between the collars is a sealwhich ensures sealing and in the case of a sufficiently thickconfiguration, e.g. in the form of a corrugated steel ring, alsoproduces the restoring forces which are necessary for the stablescrew-connection of the loose flanges under changing operatingconditions.

Loose flanges which comprise two flange halves, overlap in twooverlapping regions and are screwed to one another there by means ofrelatively small flange screws are known. Outside the overlappingregions, said loose flanges have screw holes for connecting screws,which serve for connecting the loose flange to a further loose flange oranother connecting part.

These loose flanges have the disadvantage that, during the connection oftwo loose flanges or of a loose flange to another connecting part, thetightening of the connecting screws results in the connection of the twoflange halves being subjected to canting and shearing forces, which onlypermit limited tightening of the connecting screws, since otherwise theflange screws rupture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages of the already known loose flangesdescribed above, the object of the invention is to provide a looseflange of the type mentioned in the introduction in the case of whichthe shearing forces acting on the flange halves during tightening of theconnecting screws are compensated for by the two flange halvesthemselves.

This object is achieved by the loose flange according to the inventionas defined in independent patent claim 1. Patent claim 8 relates to ause of the loose flange according to the invention. Preferred variantscan be gathered from the dependent patent claims.

The essence of the invention resides in the fact that, in the case of atwo-piece loose flange with two flange halves, which overlap in twooverlapping regions, and at least four screw holes for connectingscrews, which serve for connecting the loose flange to a further looseflange or another connecting part, it being the case that a connectingscrew hole is arranged in the two overlapping regions, the two flangehalves have profiles which interengage in a step-like or tooth-likemanner and are intended for absorbing the shearing forces acting on theflange halves during the tightening of the connecting screws, it beingthe case that at least one connecting screw hole runs through a steptransition.

By virtue of the fact that the shearing forces are absorbed by profileswhich interengage in a step-like or tooth-like manner, it is possible toprovide better calculations for connections of loose flanges accordingto the invention. Moreover, it is not necessary for the shearing forcesto be compensated for by the connecting screws, with the result that thelatter are subjected to less pronounced loading.

In the case of the loose flange according to the invention, for theloose-flange connections, it is possible to calculate, at leastpartially, the main forces and the secondary forces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The loose flange according to the invention is described in more detailhereinbelow by way of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to theattached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a loose flange according to theinvention with overlapping regions with step-like profiles;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the loose flange of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the loose flange of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 shows the use of two loose flanges according t FIG. 1 for thepurpose of connecting two steel-enameled pipes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 3

The illustrated loose flange 1 according to the invention comprises twoflange halves 2 and 3, which overlap in two overlapping regions.Arranged in each of the two overlapping regions is a connecting screwhole 4 or 5 which passes through the two flange halves 2, 3. Offset by90° with respect to said holes 4 and 5, a further connecting screw hole6 is arranged in the flange half 2 and a further connecting screw hole 7is arranged in the flange half 3. With inner flange diameters of from 35to 230 mm and outer flange diameters of from 100 to 350 mm, the diameterof the connecting screw holes 4 to 7 is, for example, betweenapproximately 14 and 25 mm.

The overlapping regions of the two flange halves 2, 3 have step-like,interengaging profiles 21, 22, 31, 32 which serve for absorbing theshearing forces.

The inside of the loose flange 1 comprises a cylindrical side surface 11and a funnel-like slope 12.

FIG. 4

Two loose flanges 1 and 1′ serve here for pressing two pipe ends 9 and9′ against one another. The pipe ends 9, 9′ are respectively providedwith collars 91 and 91′, which respectively have annular shoulders 911and 911′ on which the loose flanges 1 and 1′ rest respectively, with theresult that the pressing forces act on the collars 91 and 91′ as closelyas possible to the pipe within. On the inside, the pipe ends 9, 9′ arerespectively lined with a layer of chemical enamel 92, 92′ or the like.Arranged between the two pipe ends 9, 9′ is an annular seal 90 whichensures sealing.

The loose flanges 1 and 1′ are screwed to one another by means of fouror more connecting screws 8, only one of these screws being depictedhere.

It can clearly be seen that the insides of the loose flanges 1 and 1′respectively have a cylindrical side surface 11, 11′ and a funnel-likeslope 12, 12′.

It is possible to realize further design variations for the abovedescribed loose flanges, and express mention should also be made here ofthe following:

The number of connecting screw holes 4 to 7 may vary from 4 or more,depending on the nominal width.

The loose flange need not necessarily be in the form of a shallowcylinder. Planar side surfaces or combined forms are also conceivable.

Instead of step-like profiles 21, 22, 31, 32, it is also possible touse, for example, tooth-like profiles.

What is claimed is:
 1. A two-piece loose flange having two flange halveswhich overlap in two overlapping regions, and at least four screw holesfor connecting screw, which serve for connecting the loose flange toanother connecting part, it being the case that a connecting screw holeis arranged in the two overlapping regions, characterized in that thetwo flange halves have profiles which interengage in a step-like mannerin the overlapping regions and are intended for absorbing the shearingforces acting on the flange halves during tightening of the connectingscrews, it being the case that at least one connecting screw hole runsthrough a step transition.
 2. The two-piece loose flange as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that at least one step transition runs in acenter axis of the loose flange.
 3. The two-piece loose flange asclaimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one steptransition runs parallel to the line connecting the center points of theconnecting screw holes in the two overlapping regions.
 4. The two-pieceloose flange as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, inaddition to the connecting screw holes in the overlapping regions, atleast one further connecting screw hole is provided per flange half. 5.The two-piece loose flange as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized inthat the two flange halves are of essentially identical construction. 6.The two-piece loose flange as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized inthat the inside of the loose flange is of partially cylindrical andpartially funnel-like design.
 7. The two-piece loose flange as claimedin claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the diameter of the connectingscrew holes is at least 14 mm.
 8. The two-piece loose flange as claimedin claim 1, characterized in that the connecting part includes anotherloose flange.
 9. The two-piece loose flange as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the profiles interengage in a tooth-like manner.10. The use of a two-piece loose flange for the purpose of connectingcomponents which are lined, the loose flange having two flange halves,which overlap in two overlapping regions, and at least four screw holesfor connecting screws, which serve for connecting the loose flange toanother connecting part, it being the case that a connecting screw holeis arranged in the two overlapping regions, characterized in that thetwo flange halves have profiles which interengage in a step-like mannerin the overlapping regions and are intended for absorbing the shearingforces acting on the flange halves during tightening of the connectingscrews, it being the case that at least one connecting screw hole runsthrough a step transition.
 11. The use as claimed in claim 10,characterized in that the components have a pipe part and a collar withan annular shoulder which serves as loose flange support and is intendedfor the introduction of force in the vicinity of the pipe part, suchthat the loose flange rests just on the annular shoulder during theconnection of two components, and an annular gap is provided on theoutside, around the annular shoulder, between the collar and looseflange.
 12. The use as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that theannular gap is greater than the maximum bending of the loose flange inthe region of the collar during tightening of the connecting screws,with the result that the loose flanges produce a restoring force. 13.The use as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the looseflange used is produced in a stable and precise manner and butts againstthe pipe part and against the annular shoulder in a positively lockingmanner.
 14. The use as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that theconnecting part includes another loose flange.
 15. The use as claimed inclaim 10, characterized in that the profiles interengage in a tooth-likemanner.
 16. The use as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that theconnecting components are steel-enameled.